DEATH TOLL APPROACHES 50

sky news ^ | Last Updated: 12:46 UK, Tuesday February 10, 2004

[gdyniawitawa]

DEATH TOLL APPROACHES 50

A car bomb near a police station south of Baghdad is reported to have killed 50 people.

The explosion tore apart the station in the small town of Iskandariya, 25 miles south of the Iraqi capital.

"There are around 50 martyrs, 30 of whom have been identified, and dozens wounded," Dr Tahsim Ahmad said at a hospital near the site of the attack.

The hospital's director, Razak Jabbar, said: "Thirty dead have been brought here, I believe that number is rising. I believe it's at 49."

Police confirmed that at least 45 people had been killed by the blast with a further 150 injured.

But Mr Jabbar put the total number of dead at his hospital at 50.

Many of those at the scene had been queuing up to fill in application forms to join the police force.

The area's provincial governor, Imad Lifty, said: "All of the people killed are locals, they are innocents and Muslims. No Muslim could have done this.

"It appears the amount of explosives used was huge because it killed so many and devastated the buildings."

American troops sealed off all roads leading to the blast site

[trebb]

"There are around 50 martyrs, 30 of whom have been identified, and dozens wounded," Dr Tahsim Ahmad said at a hospital near the site of the attack

Hmmm - interesting term for the victims - any chance it's intended to let the terrorists know that they are not the true martyrs?

"All of the people killed are locals, they are innocents and Muslims. No Muslim could have done this.

Another slap at the terrorists?

I find the comments refreshing and somewhat hope-inspiring...

[JCB]

"All of the people killed are locals, they are innocents and Muslims. No Muslim could have done this."

And Saddam was a...what? Catholic?

[smith288]

"There are around 50 martyrs, 30 of whom have been identified, and dozens wounded," Dr Tahsim Ahmad said at a hospital near the site of the attack.

The innocent people who died here ARE indeed martyrs (according to Islam). This I can agree with. Ill call them victims of an evil people.

[timpad]

Or, is the doctor implying this is the work of the US, in some twisted Middle Eastern conspiracy theorist kind of way?

[MissAmericanPie]

Saddam was secular and his people knew it. He was alot like American politicians that have nothing to do with Christianity unless they can pull it as a trump card in some way, like Dean.